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Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 7:34 am
by fatmac
Mr.Gumby wrote:
Celtic flute, as against concert flute, though not absolutely true, is a far better description.
No, it isn't. It is an absolutely ridiculous description.
Well I think it is a far more relative/descriptive term than Irish Flute, which is not Irish at all!

Just because people play Irish tunes on it does not make it Irish!

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 7:37 am
by Peter Duggan
fatmac wrote:Well I think it is a far more relative/descriptive term than Irish Flute, which is not Irish at all!
It's no more 'Celtic' than 'Irish'!

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 7:43 am
by fatmac
Peter Duggan wrote:
fatmac wrote:Well I think it is a far more relative/descriptive term than Irish Flute, which is not Irish at all!
It's no more 'Celtic' than 'Irish'!
....& that is why I prefer Folk Flute, which is what many people play on it, be it Irish, Scottish, Breton, etc. folk tunes. :wink:

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 7:50 am
by Mr.Gumby
It is an instrument capable of and used for many types of music.

Cuban flute, anyone?

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 9:43 am
by fatmac
...& it says
Copied from a fine French original
:D :thumbsup:

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 10:28 am
by tstermitz
Conversation with someone who played flute from high school:
I play flute. Wooden flute.

Oh, you mean recorder?

No, flute. Simple-system, wooden flute from the 1850s. Not silver boehm flute.

Blank look.
The point is, most people, even modern flute musicians, think of the silver object with many keys. They probably don't even use the descriptor "Boehm". So at a minimum, I say wooden flute and that usually piques their interest, and continues the conversation.

And, most people who played flute in high school band have few opportunities to play as adults. They are quite interested about this thing called a session where flutes are part of the mix.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 11:44 am
by kmag
When a person asks if I play an instrument I just tell them I play the flute. It seems to satisfy their curiosity especially since the question is usually just a part of a larger conversation. Most people do not care what type of flute I play and become quickly bored if you start explaining flute differences such as materials, history etc. If they ask what type of music I play I tell them Irish traditional music. If I already play with other people they already know what I play so, once again, a term is not necessary.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 11:48 am
by D Mc
I find this conversation interesting, and in no small way, humorous. So many strong opinions on the use of a descriptive adjective. It's not like it is being used in an inflammatory or derogatory way. It is simply conveying a narrowing of the definition of the object, for those that need it.

If the people you are talking to understand which flute you are referencing, then obviously no descriptor is needed. However, if they do not, you can either use the much maligned term, or plan on spending a lot more time in making yourself understood.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 11:52 am
by Peter Duggan
D Mc wrote:If the people you are talking to understand which flute you are referencing, then obviously no descriptor is needed. However, if they do not, you can either use the much maligned term, or plan on spending a lot more time in making yourself understood.
Or neither, when calling it 'Irish' might actually confuse things further!

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 12:08 pm
by busterbill
It all depends on who you are talking to.

People still periodically ask me what type of clarinet I am playing. :D

My nomenclature changes depending on who I am am talking to, their experience and their interest level.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 12:15 pm
by Wanderer
I've never heard a non-musician ever refer to the instrument as anything other than "a flute".

Most musicians I know also refer to it the same way in casual conversation.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 12:52 pm
by D Mc
Peter Duggan wrote:Or neither, when calling it 'Irish' might actually confuse things further!
Hmm...could you help me out on that? I can see that many people get agitated by it but I am struggling to think of just who would be confused by it.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:00 pm
by Peter Duggan
D Mc wrote:I am struggling to think of just who would be confused by it.
Anyone who can't already picture this type of flute and/or doesn't associate it with 'Irish'. It's not a given!

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:10 pm
by D Mc
Ah, obvious once you say it, thanks.

Re: The Irish flute: An instrument or o style?

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 3:03 pm
by Javier Vila
Ok, I agree “concert flute” can also be confusing. I hate “celtic flute”.

What about “Romantic flute”? It is accurate to the period, following the renaissance, the baroque and the classical flutes. I guess it could lead to funny jokes though...

Another option could be “traditional flute”. Some players like Chris Norman use that term http://www.irishfluteguide.info/2016/02 ... -now-open/. I think it makes sense from the perspective that it’s the most common use nowadays and also acknowledges that it was rescued by traditional players.